We’ve left Skye – we will be stopping in Edinburgh on the way back. We’ll have to have a look at the new trams… We did!
Visit “They’re back!” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries for more on this splendid new modern tramway
Category: Railways…
…and trams, traction engines, buses, ships, boats, canals and other transport subjects
An afternoon at Amerton
…in the company of Isabel, Jennie, Sybil Mary, Paddy, Peter Pan and Woto! Six super little 2’0″ gauge steam locomotives enjoying themselves at the annual steam gala. For more pictures and (a little) information, visit “Amerton’s Gala” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries
7th June at Statfold
A day that turned out much better than expected: more photos and an account of the day’s activities – and weather – at Rain and shine at Statfold on Geoff’s Rail Diaries
Rainy day, sunny day at Statfold
I had a feeling, when I booked the tickets, that it was going to rain on the 7th June, for the Statfold open day. It did, too – the forecast had been dire all week, and we were woken by a thunderstorm in the early hours of the morning. Happily, the BBC thought things were going to improve in the afternoon, and they were right.
A (fairly brief) “Rail Diaries” page will follow in due course; meanwhile, here are a couple of tasters.
Steam in the Landscape
We’ve had one or two steam-hauled specials in Shropshire recently – this would be the last for the immediate future. It should have been a Britannia, then it was going to be Duchess of Sutherland. In the end, they were all indisposed, and the duty fell to humble Black 5 no. 44932 – an ideal subject for “steam in the landscape” shots…
(A few) More photos and video at “Steam in the Landscape” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries
Leighton Buzzard and the Baldwin
Just published to “Geoff’s Rail Diaries“, an illustrated account of yesterday’s trip to the LBNGR. Visit “Leighton Buzzard and the Baldwin” – now!
Reunited
Just published to “Geoff’s Rail Diaries“, more on yesterday’s steam special, including (a few) more pictures. Visit “Reunited – 44871 & 45407“
Steam Supreme
44871 and 45407 at Craven Arms
We sallied forth last week to see them go south – but gave up when, as the rain clouds gathered, we heard the train was running two hours late. Today, they were four minutes early, and going well (as was the light, after some glorious sunshine earlier in the afternoon) – a fine sight!
A steamy weekend in Staffordshire
No shortage of steam railways in the county of Stafford! For lots more pictures from Statfold (plus a video of a ride down the line), and a selection (with video) from Chasewater, visit Starting with Statfold and Gervase on Geoff’s Rail Diaries
New toys and visitors
Statfold and Chasewater: a great way to start the season. This year’s first open day at Staffordshire’s narrow gauge heaven was yesterday, 29th March; it was also the weekend of the Chasewater Industrial Gala
What will be new at Statfold (there’s always something)? Mr Lee has been busy with the track – there’s a new loop on the 2′ gauge line at Oak Tree, doubling its capacity, and it now connects to the balloon loop at the far end, so that trains on both lines can run the full length of the layout, round the loop and back along their respective lines. And there’s a new loco, in the splendid shape of Hudswell Clarke 972 of 1912, an 0-6-0 tender engine.
They’ve been busy with the layout at Chasewater too, tidying up the track at the entrance to Brownhills West. Unfortunately the work wasn’t completed in time – no “bay to bay” trains for Colin McAndrew. But he’s got a new companion for the weekend, in the (unusual) shape of visitor Gervase. Gervase is a Sentinel – an early one, dating from 1928, a conversion of a 1900 Manning Wardle, with side rods rather than the chain drive of later machines. We’d better go and have a look – perhaps Sunday’s weather will be good too? It was…
“Rail Diaries” pages will appear in due course. In the meantime, the above tasters will have to do…
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